לָבֵשׁ

From the study of Proverbs 31:21

Range of meaning

To put on clothing, wear, be clothed. Often used figuratively: to be clothed with righteousness, strength, shame or salvation (Job 29:14; Ps 132:9; Isa 51:9).

Against the English

'Clothed' is accurate. The Hebrew passive participle stresses a finished, settled state: they are already dressed, not being dressed when the cold hits.

Used elsewhere in the period

The participle lāvūš describes people dressed in a certain garment, for example the man 'clothed in linen' (Ezek 9:2; Dan 10:5).

From the study of Esther 5:1

Range of meaning

To put on or wear clothing. In a causative form, to clothe someone. Figuratively, to be 'clothed' with a quality or power: righteousness (Job 29:14), majesty (Ps 93:1), shame (Ps 35:26), or the spirit of God coming upon a person (Judg 6:34; 1 Chr 12:19).

Against the English

'Put on' is accurate. What English loses is the word's figurative reach and the way it ties this scene to the clothing thread that runs through the book.

Used elsewhere in the period

Common across the Hebrew Bible. In Esther it belongs to a deliberate pattern. Mordecai puts on sackcloth (4:1). Esther sends him clothes to wear instead and he refuses (4:4). Haman later proposes a royal garment 'which the king has worn' (6:8), and it ends up on Mordecai (6:11; 8:15). Changes of clothes mark changes of fate.

From the study of 2 Chronicles 24:20

Range of meaning

To put on clothing, to dress, to wear. Used figuratively for 'putting on' qualities such as righteousness, strength, shame or terror. The spirit is the subject in only three places: Judg 6:34 (Gideon), 1 Chr 12:18 (Amasai) and here.

Against the English

BSB, KJV, WEB, NIV and NLT use 'came upon' or 'came on', which keeps the sense but loses the picture. YLT and ESV keep 'clothed'.

How it drifted

Translators smooth the image because 'the Spirit clothed Zechariah' sounds odd in English. Without the image, readers miss how bold it is: God's spirit takes on a human being like a garment.

Used elsewhere in the period

Judg 6:34: the spirit of YHWH 'clothed' Gideon, who then blew the trumpet and gathered Israel. 1 Chr 12:18: the spirit 'clothed' Amasai, who at once spoke a short inspired poem pledging loyalty to David. Job 29:14: 'I put on righteousness and it clothed me.' The Greek Septuagint uses endyō, 'to put on', the same verb behind Luke 24:49, 'clothed with power from on high'.